Original
Multi-active
Costa Rica: Hike, Bike & Raft
4.7
Excellent
66 reviews
8 days
Start
San Jose, Costa Rica
Finish
San Jose, Costa Rica
Trip Code
QVXC
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
6 breakfasts, 2 lunches
Transport
Shared vehicle, Public bus, Raft, Bicycle
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Lodge (1 nights)
From £1,106(8 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Swap the concrete jungle for the real jungle on a guided nature hike into the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, home to some of Costa Rica’s exotic animals, like sloths, tropical butterflies and the elusive quetzal bird.
Raft along the Pacuare River – this area was ranked in the top five rivers of the world for whitewater rafting! You’ll tackle Class 3 and Class 4 rapids through lush green landscapes abundant in wildlife.
Cycle the quiet palm-fringed roads of Puerto Viejo and drop in at hidden beaches along the Caribbean coast.
Opt to ride some waves with a surfing expedition at a local beach, go stand up paddleboarding on Lake Arenal or take on some more challenging hikes through forest and coastlines – this trip allows you plenty of free time to take on our favourite adventures!
Make the most of your full free day in La Fortuna – there are lava-fuelled hot springs, water-based activities on Lake Arenal (like stand up paddleboarding with a volcano backdrop) or you can take a boat tour of Cano Negro Reserve and go wildlife spotting!
Is this trip right for you?
We've designed this trip with a mix of active adventures and nature activities, plus plenty of free time built in. Some days you might want to join optional activities for more adventure, other days you might prefer to take it easy and recharge. The schedule gives you room to customize your experience based on what feels right for you.
The included activities on this trip don't require a high level of fitness or skill, but it’s essential to be at least moderately fit if you want to partake in all activities.
Most of the activities (both included and optional) on this trip take place in the great outdoors. This means you'll need to be prepared to deal with insects and occasionally rustic conditions. It's all part of immersing yourself in this natural paradise.
Costa Rica is generally hot and humid year-round, and from May to October can be wet too. At nighttime and in locations at higher elevations it can get chilly. Protect yourself from the sun, bring light clothing you can layer and a waterproof jacket, and stay hydrated. Please carefully consider which time of the year you'll feel most comfortable travelling. Although most vehicles do have air conditioning, it has to work pretty hard to keep a full group cool.
With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries for a lot of things.
We've designed this trip with a mix of active adventures and nature activities, plus plenty of free time built in. Some days you might want to join optional activities for more adventure, other days you might prefer to take it easy and recharge. The schedule gives you room to customize your experience based on what feels right for you.
The included activities on this trip don't require a high level of fitness or skill, but it’s essential to be at least moderately fit if you want to partake in all activities.
Most of the activities (both included and optional) on this trip take place in the great outdoors. This means you'll need to be prepared to deal with insects and occasionally rustic conditions. It's all part of immersing yourself in this natural paradise.
Costa Rica is generally hot and humid year-round, and from May to October can be wet too. At nighttime and in locations at higher elevations it can get chilly. Protect yourself from the sun, bring light clothing you can layer and a waterproof jacket, and stay hydrated. Please carefully consider which time of the year you'll feel most comfortable travelling. Although most vehicles do have air conditioning, it has to work pretty hard to keep a full group cool.
With so much to see and do, Costa Rica can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would in other Central American countries for a lot of things.
Itinerary
Hike, bike and raft your way through the wilderness of Costa Rica
If you’re looking for a Central American thrill, take on an eight-day active adventure through one of the world's greenest countries. Dive into Costa Rica’s wilderness and cascade down the rapids of Pacuare River in a raft, hike misty jungle trails in the Monteverde Cloud Forest and cycle along the coastline of Puerto Viejo. With plenty of free time to customise your adventure depending on your interests, you might opt to surf the Caribbean waves in palm-fringed beach towns or go stand up paddleboarding on Lake Arenal. Costa Rica is the perfect place for wildlife lovers (how many sloths can you spot?), active adventurers and those seeking a natural paradise.
Inclusions
Meals
6 breakfasts, 2 lunches
Transport
Shared vehicle, Public bus, Raft, Bicycle
Accommodation
Hotel (6 nights), Lodge (1 nights)
Included activities
Monteverde - Cloud Forest Entrance
Pacuare - 4hrs. Pacuare River white water rafting - Class 3 & 4
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca - Coastal Bicycle ride
Caribbean cooking demonstration
Optional activities
San Jose - Pre-Colombian Gold Museum (Entrance fee) - USD17
San Jose - National Museum (entrance fee) (Closed Sunday & Monday) - USD11
Monteverde - Coffee & Chocolate tour - USD47
Monteverde - Canopy Zip Lining (Entrance, Equipment & Transport) - USD101
Monteverde - Butterfly Garden and Insects Farm (entrance fee) - USD22
Monteverde - Suspension bridges tour - USD55
La Fortuna- Caño Negro boat tour - USD94
La Fortuna - La Fortuna Waterfall (Entrance only) - USD25
La Fortuna - Stand up paddle board - USD75
La Fortuna - Arenal hanging bridges (inc entrance fee, guide and shared transport) - USD75
La Fortuna - Arenal 1968 Volcano View and Lava Trails (Entrance fee) - USD25
La Fortuna - Paradise Hot Springs (entrance fee) - USD47
Manzanillo - Beginner surf lesson or Independent surfboard rental - USD65
Gandoca Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge (donation for entry) - Free
San Jose - San Jose Bites and Sights Tour - Urban Adventures - USD49
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. It is very important that you provide your height at time of booking so we can ensure that you have the appropriate sized bicycle when your trip starts. If you do not provide your height ahead of arrival we cannot guarantee a suitably sized bike for you.
2. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 in San Jose. There are no activities planned for the final day so you may depart at any time.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. Please be careful when booking flights to/from San Jose; make sure you fly into/out of Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO]. Please do not book flights to/from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport [SJC] as this is located in California, United States.
Reviews (68)
5 stars
57
4 stars
7
3 stars
1
2 stars
2
1 star
1
Luke
Aug 30, 2025
Fantastic trip. Eric is the best tour guide I've ever had and I wish that everyone who booked through Intreped could have him. Costa Rica is truly beautiful and the tour showed me everything.
Ian
Aug 24, 2025
A wonderfully diverse country with a diverse selection of activities and experiences to enjoy. I didn't want to leave.
Marta
Aug 24, 2025
I highly recommend this experience! We are a family of five, including a teenager and a couple of young adults, and every one of us had a fantastic time. The activities were engaging, the food was healthy and delicious, and sharing the experience with other people in the group made it even more special—like the laughter and energy just multiplied! It truly enriched all of us and created memories that we’ll be talking about for a long time.
patrick
Aug 24, 2025
“Paul Najera made our Costa Rica trip a truly wonderful experience. His organization, knowledge, and warm leadership brought the country to life. Paul’s storytelling, problem-solving, and genuine care turned a great itinerary into an unforgettable journey. He is an outstanding guide and a huge asset to Intrepid.”
Paolo
Aug 23, 2025
It was my first trip in a group. I loved that I did not ave to plan form anything myself. Just show up. Our guide Paul definitely made the difference. He was not only knowledgeable, but also kind and fun. He knew exactly when to join and when to step back. Never invasive, always present and soon became part of the group. Wonderful experience. Thank you
Raymond
Aug 13, 2025
Hike, Bike & Raft Costa Rica was my first group tour and my first adventure tour and it met all my expectations. Our group became family almost immediately after meeting and Kenneth, our leader, was very much part of that family as he guided us through our adventures. Getting exposed to the various biomes and cultures of Costa Rica, combined with thrilling adventures was amazing!
Manuel
Aug 12, 2025
It was a very enjoyable trip not only because offered the type of activities I look , all the group blend together , Kenneth did a great job organizing and communicating to the group during the trip, Thank you for all his job and the logistics Intrepid worked for this trip.
Tonia
Aug 11, 2025
I wasn’t sure about this kind of active vacation because I usually pace things a bit slower. Just go! Especially if time is a constraint. Each activity is well supported and you have a choice of activities with a range of price points. You will be very busy and rest when you get home. It was worth it!
Dale
Aug 11, 2025
My first group trip could not have gone better. I met 12 amazing new friends all of whom contributed to making the trip memorable. Kenneth, our leader was amazing!
Alice
Jul 31, 2025
I booked this trip three weeks before I went, and have absolutely no regrets! I went on my own, but met a wonderful group of like minded people- our group was a real highlight of the trip. Costa Rica is an amazing country, and we experienced beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife and fun activities in the excellent hands of our guide, Eric. I left feeling energised and refreshed, and would definitely want to go back.
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